Ersa is well-known as one of the leading manufacturers of soldering systems in the world. With the presentation of the latest additions to the rework family at the productronica 2019 and APEX 2020 trade fairs, Ersa underlined its strong position, which includes close customer relations and consistent further development of technologies to benefit users.
Cover story | published in EPP 3/4
Author: Jörg Nolte
Ersa is well-known as one of the leading manufacturers of soldering systems in the world. In addition to template printers, soldering systems for SMT and THT manufacturing and a wide range of manual soldering tools, the system supplier has been working successfully for many years in the field of assembly repairs. Numerous companies use Ersa rework systems in development and prototype production too. With the presentation of the latest additions to the rework family at the productronica 2019 and APEX 2020 trade fairs, Ersa underlined its strong position, which includes close customer relations and consistent further development of technologies to benefit users. Whether used in electronics manufacturing, product development, testing or analysis, Ersa rework systems maintain value creation on the customer side and speed up the market launch of planned products.
During the development of electronic assembles, a series of soldering-related tasks have to be performed which demand a high level of both flexibility and precision: prototype boards must be equipped and soldered, components often need exchanging, changes must be made to the circuitry following comprehensive service life or function tests. In face of the numerous types of components and solder connections available today, it is thus necessary to always have suitable tools on hand. Because in line with the “time is money” maxim, development phases must be observed and products launched on the market quickly. The development departments of many renowned manufacturers are already using Ersa rework systems for prototype manufacturing. New housing designs or components are equipped and soldered for the first time here. Even more often, first assemblies are equipped with newly programmed or modified components. Other, somewhat more exotic areas of analysis or technical forensics also often make use of rework technology: cross-replacement during troubleshooting are just as much the order of the day as the desoldering of memory modules from mobile phones or notebooks in order to analyse the data saved.
Sensitive sample board
So-called “Golden Samples” are the most closely guarded treasures in development. Accordingly, these sensitive assemblies should be handled with the utmost care. In prototyping, many working steps that run automatically in a production line have to be done by hand or with the aid of tools and semi-automatic devices. As a rule, the printed circuit board is the starting point. There are suppliers who supply low-price Golden Samples for standard electronics within a few days. For special requirements, manufacturers including LPKF Laser & Electronics AG offer equipment for structuring printed circuit boards in company laboratories. In any case, the Golden Sample can have different properties in terms of structure than the later final product. Sample substrates may not have the same temperature stability, for example, or have a sensitive coating. Accordingly, the subsequent equipping processes and the soldering must be carried out with great care.
The Golden Sample usually runs through a number of processes (through to cleaning) which deviate from those used in series manufacturing later. There can be a mixture of manual and machine equipping, while soldering can be a mixture of reflow and manual soldering as well as soldering with rework systems. A high level of expertise and precision is required of those involved. Prudent developers may include sockets for processors in the prototype design. These involve individual equipping and soldering processes which will not be done in the same way in later series production. Very often, adaptations have to be made to the first assemblies which frequently involve further soldering processes. This is another reason why all soldering work should be done as gently as possible, in order to avoid damage to assemblies or substrates.
Ersa HR 500 hybrid rework system for the automatic positioning and soldering of SMT components during prototyping
Lifting a printed MLF device out of a Dip&Print template during prototyping with the HR 550
Reliable and reproducible equipping of 01005 components…
…and a metallic BGABTC and Prototyping
Soldering complete assemblies
More Ersa systems for sample assemblies
From the idea to the product – fast equipping and soldering of sample assemblies / prototypes
From the idea to the product – fast equipping and soldering of sample assemblies / prototypes
Ideal for prototyping – up to 4 tools can be operated in parallel on the i-CON VARIO 4 for soldering/desolderingPrototyping with Ersa systems
- Successful processing from the very first assembly
- Simple and reliable component placement with BTC
- Components up to 01005 can be processed
- Safe, controlled soldering processes
- Assembly repairs possible at all times
- ESimple operation thanks to operator guidance and standardised software HRSoft 2
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